How Do We Know What to Do NEXT in Our Businesses?
Updated: Jan 19, 2021
I have the privilege of meeting with entrepreneurs either before they start their business or at a big turning point in their current business. When someone needs a logo and a website, it’s a big deal in that person’s life.
We always start with a strategy session. One of the main things I want to understand is what is the vision? What’s the big picture here?
Most will start with the END in mind. That’s a good place to start. We’ll work through all the products and services they see, all the markets they could serve, and where they could grow the company to.
After they are done, it’s my job to K.I.S.S. them. Keep it simple stupid. I don’t call then stupid! I just simplify it down to what we can do TODAY. Not tomorrow, not 1 year from now…TODAY, right here, right now.
We entrepreneurs are visionary. We see the big picture, but some of us struggle to know the NEXT STEP. We’re so focused looking ahead that, if we don’t take the next careful step, we could trip or fall into a ditch.
How do we stay focused on what we can do TODAY?
I’ve studied the missionary journeys of Paul in the book of Acts. Here’s a man with a BIG MISSION and VISION: let all the Jews and gentiles know about Jesus. How he did it? Well, He let God take the lead. He followed what the Spirit led him to do. I’m sure he had desires to go to certain cities in the future, but the most important day was today, the current moment he was in, and being totally present to hear and provide the service he set out on a mission to do: tell people about Jesus.
If you’re feeling stuck, confused, frustrated at your business, and overwhelmed by opportunity you see in the future, you need to pause and become aware of TODAY.
Here’s a bible verse that, when you feel overwhelmed and don’t know what to do next, you keep it in your memory bank:
"Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." (James 4:13-17 NIV)
We Godpreneurs have a responsibility to balance the vision tomorrow with the mission today. Shooting for the stars is amazing, but along the way, God has things meant to help you grow stronger in your gifts and talents.
Godpreneur Rule #173: Godpreneurs see the vision of the future while having the balance to focus on the current mission, today’s goals.